Improved railway-switch



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IMPRovED RAmwAY- swrrca The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent`and making part of the same.

1' o all whom' tt conce/m:

,of` the construction and operation of the same, reference being hadtothe annexed drawings forming a part of this specification, in which-Figure l represents a perspective view of the railroad-switch chairs, asconstructed when applied to two side tracks;

Figure 2 represents a perspective view of the railroad-switch chairs, asconstructed when applied to one side track; l

Figure 3 shows a plan of the railroad-switch chairs, as constructed fort'wo side tracks; and p Figure4 represents a plan of the railroadswitchchairs,- asconstructed for one-side track, and details of two railscommon to both chairs, and marked e and fr.

The chair A, figs. l and 3, consists of an iron plate, cast with the`raised rails a, b, and -v, shaped, constructed, and arranged as shown inthedrawings.

The ,rail t and wedge-shaped portion of the rail b aresecured from thewear of oar-wheels bya covering of steel plate riveted to the rails,asshown in o, iig. 4.

In front of the pointed or narrow end of the rail b of the `chair A,digs. 1 and 3, is a groove, X, cut through the entire thickness of theplate, and of sufficient size to admit the free lateral motion of thebolt extending from the under portion of the rail fr, fig. 4.

The rail lr of chair A, gs. l and 3, consists of a rectangular bar ofcast or wrought-iron, secured to the plate by a movable bolt orpivot,`which is held in its place by a-nut at its lower end. Theopposite end of the rail a' is movable over the groove X by,a boltpassing through it, with a thread out at its lower end, and riveted tothe rail, if the rail is of wrought-iron, and secured Vin the rail, ifof cast-iron, while being cast. The movable rail r can be adjusted tothe main or side track at pleasure, by the switch-lever, which moves the'arm L, to which said rail is attached by the projecting-,bolt andsecured by a nut.

The chair A', figs. l and 3, consists of a cast-iron plate with raised'rails a, b, o, and o, constructed and arranged as shown in the drawing.L

The upper surface of the rails e o is protected by steel plates .similarto those previously described, and shown in fu, iig. 4.

Y The rail lr is of the same size, and constructed and applied similarlyto the rail 'r of chair A, figs. 1 and 3, as shown in detail in fr, iig.4.

' Figs. 2 and 4 represent the chairs, as constructed when applied to oneside track.

The construction and arrangement of the wedgeshaped rails Iu o andmovable rail fr are similar to those of the lower end ofthe chairs A andA', figs. l and 3.

The rail a in chair A, figs. 4 and 2, terminates at the point. Itisrepresented to angle to the left in figs. 1 and 3, and it connectsdirectly with the maintrack rail M.

The application of chairs, g. 3, to two side tracks is explained by thefact that the momentum of a car or train moving on a straight linevtends to keep it moving in the same direction, unless prevented by anobstruction. e

If, then, the movable rails r fr are adjusted to the main-track rails MM, the oars coming from either direction can move straight withoutobstruction. The wheels passing over the wedge-shaped rails o o will,when. over their narrowest point, rest partly on the rails adjoiningthem. on the same principle which allows them topass over raiiroad-frogsin ordinary use. Upon the same principle, oars coming from side trackswill `move upon the main track, their wheels being guided by theirflanges, as on ordinary curves.

The advantage gained by the use of these switchchairs consists in thesaving of time usually occupied in stopping and switching when moving,from side to main tracks.

When moving from the main track toward a switch, cars are guided to theright-hand side track' by the switch-lever, which moves the 'rail r ofchair A, figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, andto the left-hand track by the leverconnected with the movable rail fr of the chair A of the same figure.

Should either of the movable' rails lr c' be left'adjusted to the wrongtrack, the danger of cars being thrown oil' the track, would `bematerially less than on an ordinary switch, there being in thiscombination of chairs always one raiLconnected in direct line with themain track.

Claims.

1. I claim the plate of the switch-chair A, cast with the groove X, andthe raised rails a b o, and provided with the movable` rail r, allarranged as described for the purpose specified. A

2. I also claim the switch-chairs A and A, figs. 1 and 3, asconstructed, combined, and applied to one main and two side tracks, andthe chairs A and A', jigs. 2 and 4, as constructed, combined, andapplied to one main and one side track, as herein set forth.

- ANDREW ROSEWATER.

Witnesses: l WM. KIP,

EDWARD RosnwATER.

